The 5th round of the FSBK-FE French Superbike Championship, organized on the Magny-Cours circuit by MC Nevers de la Nièvre and the FFM, kept all its promises. In addition to the favorites having confirmed their good form, some drivers climbed to the top step of the podium for the first time. The competition never ceases to amaze!
SUPERBIKE COURSE 1: DEBISE ESTABLISHES ITSELF AS THE SUPERBIKE LEADER
Starting from the first position on the grid, Alan TECHER (Honda CBO – Michelin) made the holeshot and completed the first lap at the controls of the race. Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin), Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) and Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) also took off at the same pace.
DEBISE quickly tries to attack TECHER, passes him, but his rival recrosses the trajectory. While FORAY remains in contact, GINES is slightly distanced after 3 laps. The reigning French champion, however, has a margin of safety over Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli) and Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli).
On the 6th lap, Valentin DEBISE seized first position to the detriment of Alan TECHER, finding himself immediately under the direct threat of Kenny FORAY. The three leaders then have a three-second lead over GINES.
6 laps from the finish, RENAUDIN stole 5th place from MAURIN. This fight suits Grégory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli) who is slowly picking up his predecessors.
The pace is hellish at the head of the race and mistakes are forbidden. TECHER takes control 4 laps from the checkered flag, but DEBISE responds the next lap. In aspiration, FORAY is the privileged spectator of this battle.
MAURIN imitated the leaders by overtaking RENAUDIN in turn. Behind these men, the fight is also raging between local driver Maxime BONNOT (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) and Maximilien BAU (BMW – Michelin) for 8th place.
If Valentin DEBISE managed to get to safety in the final loops, Alan TECHER was overwhelmed by Kenny FORAY on the penultimate lap. Mathieu GINES, 4th after a lonely race, finished 9”814 behind the winner, his direct competitor in the championship.
Completing the top 5, Axel MAURIN finally finished 1”8 ahead of Martin RENAUDIN. The first challenger driver lacked speed in the last laps, without finding himself threatened by the 7th Grégory LEBLANC.
There are two other challengers in the top 10 with Maximilien BAU, 8th, and Valentin SUCHET (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli), 9th.
RACE 2: DEBISE TAKES A DOUBLE AT MAGNY-COURS
On the strength of the fastest time in the race during the first event, Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) took advantage of pole position to take the holeshot.
Alan TECHER (Honda CBO – Michelin), Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) and Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) did not see it that way, however, overtaking him before the end of the first lap. Combative, FORAY responds instantly by placing GINES in his rear wheel.
In the 3rd lap, Valentin DEBISE deprived TECHER of the first position. While FORAY is only a few meters behind, GINES, still diminished due to fractures in his right hand, already sees his opponents moving away.
For their part, Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli) and Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli) repeated the morning match for 5th position. Unleashed, the two men even come dangerously close to GINES.
Halfway through the race, DEBISE still prances in the lead with a slight advantage over TECHER. FORAY does not let go of the Honda pilot. Fourth, GINES tried to maintain his lead over MAURIN, while RENAUDIN was pushed back to 1”2 behind the rider of Yamaha n°89.
Four laps from the finish, Kenny FORAY seriously upped the pace to take the lead. Third, TECHER cannot follow and is half a second behind DEBISE.
The attack of the Yamaha n°153 is perfect the next lap. However, he does not get rid of the BMW n°78. The two men, clearly at the limit, were then the only ones to go below the 1’40 per lap mark.
There was only one lap left when Valentin DEBISE set another time of 1’39, allowing him to give himself a small margin of safety… and another victory. Kenny FORAY had to settle for 2nd place ahead of Alan TECHER, 3rd.
Despite his efforts, Axel Maurin could not come back to Mathieu GINES, who finished again at the foot of the podium. Sixth at the finish, Martin RENAUDIN offers himself a 10th success as a challenger.
The top 10 is completed by Maxime BONNOT (BMW Tecmas – Michelin), 7th, David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin), 8th, Valentin SUCHET (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli), 9th and Grégory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli). Maximilien BAU (BMW – Michelin), 11th, is on the last step of the challenger podium.
SUPERBIKE PROVISIONAL SITUATION:
1– Valentin DEBISE – 204 points
2 – Kenny FORAY – 165 points
3 – Mathieu GINES – 163 points
4 – Alan TECHER – 147 points
5 – Martin RENAUDIN – 122 points
SUPERSPORT 600 RACE 1: DEBISE CONTAINS GIMBERT TO THE END
If the poleman Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) climbed directly into the lead, Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Michelin) managed a very good start from 4th place on the grid. Accompanied by Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha – Pirelli), the two men escaped on the second lap.
The chasing group is led by Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha – Pirelli), closely followed by Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Dunlop), and Cédric Tangre (Yamaha – Pirelli).
Halfway through the race, DEBISE and GIMBERT are wheel to wheel after breaking away from GREGORIO and ARBEL. For his part, DE LA VEGA gradually secures his 5th place against LUSSIANA, 6th.
At just 17 years old, Johan GIMBERT impresses by not letting go of the provisional leader. Despite its experience, DEBISE is not immune. It’s a duel of pure speed between the two drivers.
While DEBISE increased the pace five laps from the finish, ARBEL overtook GREGORIO to gain 3rd position. GIMBERT responds directly with the best lap in the race to stay in contact. The rider of Yamaha n°77 has never been so close to victory.
Despite his efforts, GIMBERT could not finally compete with DEBISE in the final loop. His rival achieved the lap record there in 1’42”447 to establish his domination. The reigning French champion thus offers himself a ninth victory in the category this season.
Distanced by Loic ARBEL, 3rd, Mathieu GREGORIO misses the scratch podium for only the second time this season.
In Challenger, Johan GIMBERT thus won his first victory ahead of Mathieu GREGORIO and Bartholomé PERRIN, 7th in this first Supersport race.
RACE 2: VALENTIN DEBISE REMAINS UNDEFEATED
Quicker to release the clutch when the lights went out, Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) immediately took the lead over Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli), Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Michelin), Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha – Pirelli).
Although the positions remained fixed during the first six laps, DE LA VEGA and ARBEL were however left behind by the leading men. Shortly after, it is GREGORIO who slowly loses contact with the first two.
Halfway through the race, the duel for victory boils down to a confrontation between Valentin DEBISE and Johan GIMBERT. The young challenger pilot does not let go of the rear wheel of his elder.
6 laps from the finish, Matthieu GREGORIO fell, thus offering a place on the podium which seemed to him promised to Enzo DE LA VEGA. However, nothing is done for the latter who sees Loic ARBEL increase the pace.
In the final laps, DEBISE managed the feat of escaping at the head of the race. Johan GIMBERT has then just lost one of these sliders and proves to be lacking in reference points.
At the same time, Loic ARBEL drastically reduced the gap between him and Enzo DE LA VEGA, but finally had to settle for 4th place by one tenth.
By completing the top 5, Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) takes 2nd place in the challenger ranking ahead of a newcomer to the podium: Florent DA CUNHA (Kawasaki – Pirelli), 7th in the event.
PROVISIONAL SITUATION SUPERSPORT 600:
1– Valentin DEBISE – 257 points
2 – Matthieu GREGORIO – 168 points
3 – Loïc ARBEL – 134 points
4 – Johan GIMBERT – 117 points
5 – Enzo DE LA VEGA – 101 points
